Leviticus 21:7-9
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This verse doesn't just forbid marrying someone with a questionable past; it's about the reputational holiness required of God's representatives. The reason given—"for the priest is holy to his God"—highlights that any stain on his family life could cast a shadow on God's name. It’s a stark reminder that those set apart for God's service are expected to live in a way that reflects His purity to the world, not just in private conduct but in all their associations.
They shall not marry a prostitute or a woman who has been defiled, neither shall they marry a woman divorced from her husband, for the priest is holy to his God. You shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I, the LORD, who sanctify you, am holy. And the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by whoring, profanes her father; she shall be burned with fire.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes right after instructions for priests regarding mourning and avoiding contact with the dead. It shifts focus to the personal lives and marriages of priests, emphasizing that their sacred calling demands purity not just in their actions but also in their family choices. The prohibition extends to specific types of women to maintain the holiness and reputation of the priestly line.
Why would God be so specific about who a priest could marry? It wasn't just about personal preference, but about representing Him faithfully.
In Leviticus 21:7, God lays out strict guidelines for priests regarding marriage. They are forbidden from marrying:
The reason given is simple yet profound: 'for the priest is holy to his God.' This wasn't about looking down on certain women, but about preserving the distinct holiness required for those who ministered before God. Their families and alliances were extensions of their sacred calling.
God's call to holiness wasn't confined to the altar. It extended into the very fabric of a priest's personal life, including his marriage.
This passage highlights a crucial understanding of holiness in Scripture: it’s not just about avoiding physical contact with death or performing specific rituals. It's about a comprehensive set of standards that govern the entire life of the one set apart for God.
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Understand the original words
chalal · Hebrew Adjective
A state of ritual impurity or moral corruption that disqualifies someone or something from being in the presence of a holy God. It can result from physical acts, ceremonial neglect, or moral sin.
qadash · Hebrew Verb
To make holy, set apart, or dedicate to God. It involves both the divine act of declaring someone holy and the human responsibility to maintain that consecrated state.
This New Testament passage echoes the Old Testament principle by stating that a church leader must be above reproach and the husband of one wife, highlighting the ongoing importance of character and reputation in sacred service.
Ezekiel 44:22This later prophetic passage reiterates and even specifies the restrictions for priests, mentioning they shall marry a virgin of the seed of the house of Israel or a widow who is a widow of a priest, showing continuity in the call for purity in the priestly line.
Matthew 5:27-28Jesus expands the concept of purity beyond outward actions to the inward thoughts and desires, teaching that even looking lustfully is adultery, which deepens the understanding of the holiness required for those set apart for God.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20This passage calls believers to flee sexual immorality and to honor God with their bodies, because their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, reinforcing the idea that holiness and purity are essential for all God's people, not just priests.
gillLeviticus 21:7: "They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God."
They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane,.... By the former is meant a common whore, that prostitutes herself to any one through lust or for gain; and by the latter one whose chastity is violated, but either unwillingly, that has been forced and ravished, or else willingly, being enticed, persuaded, and prevailed upon, bu…
clarkeLeviticus 21:7: "They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God."
That is a whore - A prostitute, though even reclaimed. Profane - A heathen, or one who is not a cordial believer in the true God. Put away from her husband - Because this very circumstance might lead to suspicion that the priest and the divorced woman might have been improperly connected before.
This verse doesn't just forbid marrying someone with a questionable past; it's about the reputational holiness required of God's representatives. The reason given—"for the priest is holy to his God"—highlights that any stain on his family life could cast a shadow on God's name. It’s a stark reminder that those set apart for God's service are expected to live in a way that reflects His purity to the world, not just in private conduct but in all their associations.
This verse comes right after instructions for priests regarding mourning and avoiding contact with the dead. It shifts focus to the personal lives and marriages of priests, emphasizing that their sacred calling demands purity not just in their actions but also in their family choices. The prohibition extends to specific types of women to maintain the holiness and reputation of the priestly line.
This verse comes right after instructions for priests regarding mourning and avoiding contact with the dead. It shifts focus to the personal lives and marriages of priests, emphasizing that their sacred calling demands purity not just in their actions but also in their family choices. The prohibition extends to specific types of women to maintain the holiness and reputation of the priestly line.
"They shall not marry a prostitute or a woman who has been defiled, neither shall they marry a woman divorced from her husband, for the priest is holy to his God. You shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy…" — This verse doesn't just forbid marrying someone with a questionable past; it's about the reputational holiness required of God's representatives. The reason given—"for the priest is holy to his God…
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Last reviewed October 2026
